Articles tagged with Olfactory Perception
Scientists at Vanderbilt University have identified a second set of olfactory receptors in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, which responds to key human odorants. This discovery may help explain the effectiveness of DEET repellents and provide new insights into developing more effective lures and controls for malaria.
A team of marine microbiologists at Newcastle University have discovered that bacteria can detect airborne chemicals like ammonia using a molecular 'nose'. This ability leads to the production of biofilms, which are major causes of infection on medical implants and cost the marine industry millions every year.
Research by University of Guelph professor Rob McLaughlin reveals a correlation between brain structure and foraging behavior in brook trout. Larger telencephalon region found in fish that hunt actively, suggesting a link between brain morphology and behavioral traits.
A report examines the relationship between nasal zinc gels and loss of sense of smell in patients. The study found that intranasal zinc gluconate therapy may be associated with a permanent reduction in sense of smell due to chemical injury. Experts recommend increased FDA oversight for homeopathic medications to monitor their safety.
Scientists have discovered a key role for the GC-D necklace subsystem in mice's ability to detect safe food based on social scent. This breakthrough adds to evidence that smell is comprised of multiple parts with specialized functions, highlighting a complex communication process between animals through breathing.
A new test of sense of smell may help diagnose and treat early-stage Parkinson's disease. The research used transgenic mice with high levels of human alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to PD, to develop a model for studying the disease's effects on dopamine regulation.
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital discovered that inhibiting communication between nerve cells accelerates odor discrimination in mice. The study confirmed the function of lateral inhibition, which enables quick and reliable recognition of similar smells, using genetic manipulation and electrophysiological measurements.
Researchers have found that olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplanted into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy can improve neurological function without causing significant side effects. The study suggests OEC transplantation may be a promising treatment for this incurable disorder.
Weizmann scientists trained an electronic system to predict the pleasantness of novel odors, similar to human perception. The eNose achieved high accuracy rates, regardless of cultural background, suggesting a fundamental biological property in odorant pleasantness.
Researchers developed an algorithm that enables eNoses to rate novel odors on a scale of pleasantness, achieving high accuracy in predictions, and suggesting a fundamental cross-cultural similarity in odorant pleasantness. The study's findings may lead to new methods for odor screening and environmental monitoring.
A new study published in Brain Injury found that traumatic brain injury can cause olfactory loss in patients, with frontal lesions more likely to result in impaired sense of smell. The study recruited 49 people with TBI and found that 55% had an impaired sense of smell.
Researchers have found 27 scent receptors in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that detect compounds in human sweat. This discovery may lead to the development of new ways to combat malaria by repelling or confusing the mosquitoes. The study's findings could also inform the creation of more effective traps and repellents.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that men's testosterone levels increase when exposed to scents from women who are ovulating. The research suggests that this response may promote mating-related behavior in males. This study provides direct evidence of the influence of olfactory cues on male biological responses.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found a link between loss of smell function and amyloid protein accumulation in the brain, potentially serving as an early diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers suggest that olfactory dysfunction may be used to detect the disease prior to substantial brain degeneration.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that rats use their taste system to smell with, and when the taste cortex is inactivated, their sense of smell alters. The researchers discovered state dependency in neural circuit function, where the sensory systems don't work in isolation from each other.
A Phase II clinical study found that OptiNose's novel device delivered significant reductions in polyp size and improvements in symptoms, including facial pressure, nasal obstruction, and sense of smell. The treatment resulted in a substantial proportion of patients experiencing complete removal of polyps.
A brain imaging study found that first scents have a unique signature in the brain, regardless of whether they're pleasant or unpleasant. Early odor memories are more easily recalled, especially for bad smells, and can be predicted by brain activity.
A study published in Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery found that glucocorticoid medication and Ginkgo biloba significantly improved the sense of smell in individuals with previous olfactory loss due to upper respiratory infections. The treatment was effective regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination.
A study published in Current Biology found that nostrils can experience a 'binaral rivalry' when receiving different scents, causing an olfactory illusion. This phenomenon is observed in other paired sensory organs like eyes and ears.
Researchers at Rice University found that when the nose is presented with two different smells, the brain processes them separately through each nostril in an alternating manner. This 'perceptual rivalry' in the olfactory system allows individuals to perceive one smell predominantly at a time, creating an 'olfactory illusion'.
Vanderbilt University has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant to target the thermal receptors in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, disrupting their ability to find prey and potentially eradicating malaria. The project aims to identify small molecules that can block or over-stimulate these thermal detectors.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a form of synaptic memory in the olfactory bulb, which could explain how we store information about specific smells. This finding provides a new perspective on the brain's processing of sensory information and has implications for understanding human memory.
A study found that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have significant olfactory deficits compared to healthy controls. Patients with more active disease and past neuropsychiatric SLE manifestations had lower total TDI scores, suggesting an immune-mediated mechanism.
Women outperform men in detecting body odors, particularly those from the opposite sex. The study suggests that human sweat conveys information of particular importance to females, explaining why it is challenging to block women's perception of sweat odors.
Researchers at Harvard University have mapped the neural circuitry of the nose, revealing a seemingly random patchwork of receptors for different scents. Despite striking differences between smells like coffee and peppermint, cells processing similar odors are found in precisely the same location on the olfactory bulb.
A new study by Rice University psychologist Denise Chen found that the brain recognizes and encodes the smell of male sexual sweat in women. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to directly study human sexual sweat.
Researchers studied odorant octanal and its shape-changing properties to understand how our sense of smell works. They found that conformationally constrained odorants can alter fragrance mixture odors by muting flexible odorant activity or activating smaller subsets of olfactory sensory neurons.
Researchers are investigating the correlation between a fading sense of smell and the onset of Parkinson's disease. The study, which draws from research demonstrating that first-degree family members have a slight increase in risk, will monitor relatives 50 years or older for early detection.
Researchers found that subjects under simulated pleasant smells had mostly positive-colored dreams, while those under unpleasant smells had predominantly negative dream colors. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of olfactory function on dreams and may open up new therapeutic possibilities.
Researchers found that fruit flies with a normal sense of smell had a survival advantage over odor-blind ones in experiments. In tests where food was scarce, the sense of smell proved crucial for finding food, leading to massive competition disadvantage for odor-blind flies.
Researchers found that fruit flies can dampen their response to intense smells to prevent overload, using a feedback mechanism to navigate the olfactory landscape. This adaptation allows flies to detect subtle changes in odor concentrations and track pheromones, enabling them to find mates.
Male fruit flies lacking the Gr32a gene become confused in matters of love, attempting sex with other males and females who have already mated. This study reveals the critical role of pheromone signals in determining mating status.
Researchers have developed a genetically engineered mouse model of chronic sinusitis, which mimics the disease's symptoms and provides a new tool for studying and treating the condition. The 'stuffy nose' mice suffer from reversible loss of smell due to inflammation, offering hope for developing new therapies.
Researchers found that pregnant mice ignore alien male urine smells after day 3 of pregnancy due to dopamine surge. This chemical change helps avoid infanticide and protects fetal development.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine discovered steroids in female mouse urine activate nerve cells in male mice' noses with unprecedented effectiveness. The compounds, known as glucocorticoids (GCCs), are involved in energy metabolism, stress and immune function.
Research reveals that olfactory bulb volume changes in response to individual sense of smell changes. Patients with reduced or lost sense of smell show varying increases and decreases in olfactory bulb size. The correlation between olfactory bulb volume and function may aid in predicting disease prognosis.
The University of Maryland researchers have developed tiny sensors that use living olfactory cells on microchips to detect explosive materials, biological pathogens, and other substances. These cell-based sensors show promise in improving detection speed and accuracy.
In a study published in PLOS Computational Biology, researchers demonstrated the application of the efficient coding principle to the sense of smell in male moths. They found that olfactory neurons process stimuli that occur most frequently, optimizing the detection of pheromone molecules.
Researchers found that rats use exploratory sniffing to discriminate odors quickly, with neural responses confirming minimal processing takes place in the olfactory bulb. The study suggests odorant identity may be encoded by sequence of responses rather than peak activation.
Researchers found that a common asthma medication can improve smell function in individuals with biochemistry-based hyposmia. The study used 369 participants and showed significant improvements in over 70% of patients, with no correlation between blood levels and treatment efficacy.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that a single negative experience linked to an odor rapidly teaches us to identify and discriminate it from similar ones. The study found specific changes in brain regions enhancing perceptual sensitivity for smells with high biological relevance.
Neuroscientists discover that insulin-like growth factor (IGF) plays a critical role in setting up connections between chemical detectors in the nose and the brain's olfactory centers. IGF joins other molecules known to direct nerve cell growth, making it another tool for wiring up the brain.
Researchers found that impaired sense of smell can precede the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) in men by at least four years. Smell impairment was associated with an increased risk of PD, even after adjusting for other factors such as age and cognitive function.
Research reveals that wandering albatrosses follow the direction of scent plumes to locate food sources, often flying crosswind and zigzagging into the wind towards meals. This unique hunting strategy allows them to cover a wide strip of ocean while conserving energy.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that fruit flies integrate visual and olfactory information to track odors, using visual markers to navigate through complex environments. This crossmodal integration enables flies to efficiently find food despite their limited sensory capabilities.
Researchers have explored the brains of flies to understand their ability to integrate sight and smell, finding that panoramic visual cues are essential for accurate odor tracking. The study suggests that odor signals strengthen visual reflexes, allowing flies to navigate complex environments with remarkable accuracy.
Research at Rockefeller University reveals that flies use stereo cues to navigate towards scented targets more accurately when detecting smells with both olfactory organs. By exploiting infrared technology, scientists created an environment where they could visualize and quantify the distribution of smells.
Research from Northwestern University suggests that humans can pick up infinitesimal scents that affect whether we like or dislike someone. Study participants who were unaware of barely perceptible odors showed biased judgments on face likability, while those who could detect the scent made conscious decisions.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that elevated CO2 levels within the first five days of birth can alter a fly's carbon dioxide detection circuit. The circuit's genetic plan adjusts to real-world conditions, suggesting a general feature of the olfactory system.
Research shows that genetic variation plays a significant role in detecting sweat odor, with one gene (OR11H7P) linked to sensitivity. Environmental factors also contribute to individual differences in smell acuity.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found a common nervous system receptor that inhibits its binding protein, leading to abnormal neuron growth and development. This unusual mechanism directs the formation of tens of thousands of neurons vital for odor detection.
Research found that genetic variation affects sensitivity to the smell of sweat, with one gene (OR11H7P) associated with smelling sweat. Environmental factors also play a role in individual differences in olfactory acuity.
A new molecular pathway, PROK2 signaling, is critical to the development of neurons controlling the reproductive system. The study's findings could enable better understanding of human reproduction, particularly idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and Kallmann syndrome.
A University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study found that professional welders who work in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation may be at risk for losing their sense of smell. The study, which used a standardized test to evaluate olfactory function, found that nearly 90% of welders had impaired smell function.
Researchers mapped a specialized sensory organ that malaria mosquitoes use to locate human prey, revealing unique receptor cells for carbon dioxide and octenol detection. This discovery provides a biological context for developing chemical modifiers to disrupt mosquito behavior.
University of Maryland researchers found a unique olfactory system in mice that can detect hormones involved in regulating water and salt balance. This discovery may lead to new understanding of social information transmission between individuals.
A study found that women with dementia start losing weight up to 20 years before diagnosis, due to reduced appetite and motivation. Men with dementia do not experience significant weight loss in the years leading up to diagnosis.
Researchers discovered a unique set of olfactory neurons in mice that are sensitive to carbon dioxide, allowing them to detect the gas. This finding may have significant implications for how animals adapt to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
A study of 65 tonsillectomy patients found no ongoing dysfunction in their sense of taste after surgery. Despite average ratings of taste and smell decreasing post-surgery, none reported persistent problems, suggesting other factors like pain or discomfort may influence ratings.
Researchers found that older adults with difficulty identifying common odors were more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Olfactory dysfunction was associated with lower cognitive scores and a faster decline in memory, supporting the idea that smell identification may be an early indicator of Alzheimer's.